The Walking Dead Premiere Sets Series Ratings Record

According to an AMC press release, The Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 1 set a series ratings record, bringing in 17.3 million viewers overall, 11 million of whom were between the advertiser-friendly ages of 18 and 49.

Those are ridiculously huge numbers.

It’s a Dead man’s party. Who could ask for more?” said Charlie Collier, AMC president in a statement.“Enormous thanks to our friends and executive producers Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple, Greg Nicotero – who also directed last night’s terrific premiere – Gale Anne Hurd, Dave Alpert and Tom Luse and all of their fellow producers, cast and crew for everything they do to make the #1 show on television such a unique and incredible experience for the fans.

The Walking Dead is one of those increasingly rare shows today that can command a live audience not significantly cannibalized by time-shifted viewing. Who would have thought that cannibalized television could be curtailed by cannibal-ized television?"